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Construction Permits

Radio stations in the United States are licensed by the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). When a new radio or television
station applies for a license, or when an existing station applies for
a change in its facilities, such as a change in location, transmitter
power, or antenna height, the FCC, if it approves the application,
will grant a "construction permit" to the station.

A construction permit is like a temporary license. It usually lasts
for three years. During that time period, the
station must get its facilites operating at the new parameters. A new
station, for example, must get itself on the air. If an existing
station applied for a new transmitter location, then that station must
begin operating at the new location by the time the construction
permit expires.

If all goes well, and the station complies with the construction
permit, then the station is granted a license, which usually lasts for
seven years.

For more information on construction permits, check
out the FCC's web site.